Everyone needs a Holiday Capsule Wardrobe right?

I've been quite intrigued by the capsule wardrobe concept recently.  I have a mostly handmade wardrobe now, but without a lot of thought as to what I needed and what actually goes together.  I'm very big at just sewing what I like.  I have little time to sew, so I often don't want to bother with the boring stuff.  Thing is, boring stuff is actually pretty easy to make!

So I thought I'd test out a mini capsule, by making stuff I REALLY needed.  Christmas outfits. [Insert hilarious laughter from my audience]  Seriously guys, I have a problem, I did not need more Christmas clothes.  What I do need is pants, and more separates.  This plan did have a silver lining though. I DID actually make several separates that are totally not really Christmasy and work together in various combos (when I don't wear them with Christmas socks ;) so it was actually a win-win for my wardrobe!  Actually everything I made an be worn beyond.  I do have two pretty kitschy pieces, but I made them in previous years, and they serve to Christmas up my outfits!

Lets start with the subtle:

Sloane Sweater (basic sweater knit) with double gauze inserts.  Super comfy and casual for every day.

Now pair that sweater with a crazy Gnome print skirt and red tights?  CHRISTMAS PARTY TIME. Seriously, I wore this to my work party.  We went indoor glow in the dark mini golfing.  I beat my bosses boss.  That's good for my career right?

Now on to the less subtle:

Washi (expansion pack version with the BOW clearly) in Christmas washi fabric!  My mom knows my love of Christmas clothes and bought this for me this fabric in the summer and told me to make a dress.  So OF COURSE it had to be a wash.

Don't worry I don't normally go around with no sweater in the winter.  (Sweater hand knit by my fabulous mother in yarn first dyed for this sweater and now a standard colour over at Indigo Dragonfly yarn)  and red tights of course.

Now back to the subtle..

Day Tripper (Shwin Designs) in this super soft bamboo knit and a self drafted gathered skirt in this neat woven Japanese fabric (it's probably really to light and stiff for a gathered skit and I probably should have made a pleated skirt, but whatever, to late, and it's still works.

I also tucked it in, but I think I need a different shirt maybe to do this with (time to make a red tank for summer? haha)  This shirt also goes will with my other skirt and even just with jeans!

And just to round out this post and confirm I like kitschy Christmas sewing, here are some pieces I've made previously but have no good photos off!

Who doesn't need a Made by Rae Ruby in Rudolph fabric (with bodice mod to allow nursing)

Lane Raglan (lengthened probably 4 inches) and self-drafted tights in Christmas Sweater knit fabric!

A Double Gauze Bonnell!

You all now I love dresses, so naturally I jump at any chance to test a pattern for something new and fun!   So when Dixie over at Dixie DIY posted about her new dress pattern, the Bonnell, I knew I wanted to join in and she kindly let me!

I had actually just gotten in some delicious Nani Iro Double gauze in from the fabulous Miss Matatabi and was looking for a pattern to use with it, and so BAM, it was a perfect match if I do say so myself!

I'm also secretly (ok not secretly) sewing a mini capsule wardrobe of soft pretty dresses for a trip to Prince Edward County Wine country in July (our first trip over night away from our boys!)  So again, PERFECT.

I had also wanted to get out of my habit of making loose fitting, or knit dresses and attempt to fit a woven bodice again, so this dress gave me a chance!  I didn't do the best job and had to do some post construction adjustments, but I mainly blame that on the fact I have no dress form and it's hard to fit something on yourself with a back closure, oops!  It still worked out, and I'm inspired to actually spend the time next time and do a proper Small Bust Adjustment.  Oh and Dixie has basically done the best thing ever and written up the best tutorial ever on how to do this!  Most tutorials out there are on Full bust adjustments and so I just never felt like figuring it out, and usually just do side seam and bust dart length adjustments, so I'm excited to try her tutorial next time and it get a perfect bodice fit!  

I was super impressed by the direction and pattern too, loved the diagrams and it was all easy to follow! Aside from the bust/bodice adjustments, which were well with the realm of what I would expect to do with any pattern for my measurements, I added my standard 1 inch to the bodice, and 1 to the skirt as well to adjust for my 5'8" frame.

It even has POCKETS, all dresses should have these.

The cutouts are so fun and unexpected!  The double gauze did make it a bit hard to get the crisp corners I would have liked (soo shifty sometimes!)  but it makes it so soft and lovely wear!

And the V in the back is perfect with the neck in the front!  Oh and I totally can put in an invisible zipper without flinching now!  So odd to think they used to freak me out!

All in all, a good kick off to summer dress sewing!  Goodbye snow, hello sun!

The pattern releases TOMORROW May 19!  Go check it out!  And tell me, what kind of dress would be on your winery vacation list?

Selfish Sewing Week (and look, I'm still here!)

I'm still a lazy blogger.  I'll continue to admit it, but I'll still say I will blog occasionally.  Just not that last word.... occasionally.  So once every 3 months seems normal then right?

I think I've found the source of my slow blogging, photo editing!  hate it, hate having to find the camera cable and upload, ha.

So in the intervening months, you should just follow me on INSTAGRAM.  I post everything there, sometimes as bad selfies, sometimes as better photos.  I've discovered the community on instragram is sooo awesome!  So many designers and bloggers all interacting quickly and easily.  So quick and easy to find others versions of patterns and brief commentaries too. Love it!  And even if you don't wanna contribute or don't have a good device for it, you can sign up and follow me! (link on the right!)

Here's a peek at my feed! sewing and cute kids mostly ;)

However in honour of spring Selfish Sewing Week, I'll blog the three things I finished this week, mmmmm k?

It's still snowing here in Canadia, although it's finally hovering around and just above 0, after a RECORD breaking cold winter.  So cardigans are still a must.

I love the idea of the woven accent on Shwin Designs Beautiful Dream Cardigan when she first released last year, and I finally sewed one up!  I got a scrap pack of Japanese fabrics from Miss Matatabi last fall too, so this was perfect for my little piece of Nani Iro double gauze.

I'm part of a Facebook group that has monthly sew alongs for NON-English Patterns, and this month it's a couple patterns from the Dutch pattern magazine Knipmode.  The instructions.... aren't easily translated, even for my Dutch Mother!  But with a decent knowledge of proper garment construction I was able to pull of this knit skirt from some glorious navy french terry bought at L'oiseau Fabric.  Not the best pic, but it's like wearing track pants, but a skirt!

Lastly, I finally used up this awesome bicycle fabric I picked up on a visit to Simplifi Fabric last year.   I wasn't convinced of this pattern, the Marianne Dress from Christine Haynes, but it seemed perfect for a directional fabric like this and BOOM, I love it, it's perfect.  Next time I need to size up the sleeves (a bit snug on the XS) but seriously, I need the snow to melt so I can get to my shed and BIKE!

Also, I HATE taking pictures inside, my house is too dark, I can never take a good photo unless it's outside!  Hurry up SPRING!

How's your spring sewing going?

Sewn in 2014

I know, you've all missed me.  I admit, I'm lazy and usually just post in instagram these days.  However today you're all in luck!  I've written a 2014 wrap up post!

I won't add too much commentary, but will mention my favorite makes from each bunch.  And yes, I've sewn a ton more this year than last, so I've categorized them.   And yes a ton of these have not been blogged (and some aren't even pictured at all!)

Sewing for Me - Shirt-dress edition

I'm probably the proudest of these.  I love shirt-dresses as wear each of them regularly.  The Alder is probably my favorite and I have an second on my spring sewing list!

Sewing for me - Knits edition!

since getting a better machine and later a serger,  knit projects are quickly becoming my favorites!  So quick and easy wearing!  I made a second Sewaholic Saltspring this year, but the Colette Monetta is becoming a favorite for dresses. 

Knit shirts are sooo quick!  My nani iro Lane Raglan is probably my fav or this bunch!  My blue and green cardigan is sadly my least worn, a bit too small and a bit too bright!

 Sewing for me - The Rest

I made a bunch of Wiksten Tanks this year.  I can squeeze them out of a meter and they are so quick!  Also made my first Jacket, thanks my pattern testing experience with the lovely ladies at Pattern Anthology!  I plan to make a ton more blouse/woven tops in the near future, probably including  more Wiksten and more Zippys!

 Sewing for Boys - Knits Edition

This year I discovered the rabbit hole of Euro knits and custom knit fabric groups.  I had no idea there were sooo many beautiful patterns out there and lets just say I've accumulated quite a collection.  Good thing sewing up shirts, hoodies etc. from knits is so quick and fun!

 Sewing for Boys - The Rest

I got to sew my first button down for my boys this year, and I hope to make more, nothing is cuter!  I also hope to make them more pants, because... I didn't make them any this year, ha.  

And last but not least...

Sewing for my Man

I finally got around to sewing him up a few things just before Christmas this year.  And I plan more now that having a serger makes these projects quick sews!  Too bad their size means they still take forever to cut!

Plans for Next Year - I'll keep it simple again

1.)  SEW FROM MY STASH.  I said this last year, but my stash is significantly larger, so seems more reasonable.  But that said, I looove supporting my local store Fabrications and the several awesome online Canadian stores.... so I suspect I'll still buy a bit.
2.) Make more things for my Man.
3.) Make more basics (ha)  I looove pattern, but I'm hoping to make me and my boys wardrobe almost entirely handmade by adding a few more basics!

So how was your 2014, and whats up for 2015?

8 Days a Week - McCartney Jacket

I made an adult jacket!  This was one item of clothing I hadn't yet tackled, so when I saw it was part of the 8 Days a Week Collection,  I was super excited to test it!

After much debate I thought I'd make it pretty casual and dug out some stretch denim I had in my stash.  And for the lining I thought I'd channel my love of old buildings and used up my piece of blueprint from Caroyln Friedlander's Architextures collection (yes I realize I have no good picture of the inside, ha!), with a little splash of some Japanese import fabric for the accent.

It's constructed basically the same as the little Imagine Jacket I made M back in July.  It's way more straight forward than you'd think with a jacket! And I think I got the hang of those welt pockets now!

It's super comfy with the rib knit and easy to wear!  Now go check out the details on the patterns over on Pattern Anthology!

Me Made May '14

I've actually been sewing up a bit of teeny storm the last month or so with the help of a few concentrated sewing days with some sewing friends!  So it seems perfect timing that I pledge to join in on Me Made May for the first time!

I'm not convinced I have enough to wear one things a day, so I've pledge to wear something handmade at least 5 days a week!

I also hope this, along with Selfish Sewing Week this week will help motivate me to finish sewing the 5ish things for me I have cut out right now and to use some the gorgeous fabrics I've acquired lately!

I will also pledge to blog once a week on Sundays the results of the past week!  This will get me finally blogging a few neat things I've made lately!

I'm also going to try to post what I wear each day on my instagram, and will occasionally update my Old House Mama Wears on Facebook and flickr too!

Anyone else want to join in?  More details over here!